---
The elevator arrived.
Darren stepped inside.
The mont he entered, he saw Harry—along with Ron and Hermione in disguise.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Darren!"
Harry looked relieved.
"I heard from Ron that Yaxley dragged you into his office. Are you alright? We were trying to figure out how to get you out!"
Darren made a pained expression.
"I'm fine… I just didn't expect that he would be… like that. And he even has a wife!"
Harry's face twisted in disgust.
Then he quickly said, "We've confird it. Umbridge is in the underground courtroom."
Darren nodded.
"I heard the sa. And Moody's eye is here too. I was told it's mounted on the door of Umbridge's office. If we have ti before leaving, I want to retrieve it."
Harry hesitated for a mont.
Then he pulled sothing out.
It was Moody's magical eye.
Darren froze.
Hermione gasped.
"You took it already?!"
Harry looked uneasy.
"They mounted it on the door. How could I leave Moody's eye there?"
"But we should have taken it at the end!" Hermione said in disbelief. "If it's missing now, they'll notice imdiately! We might expose ourselves ahead of ti!"
Darren shook his head helplessly.
"Forget it. Don't bla him. Let's get downstairs as quickly as possible. If we find the locket, great. If not, we leave imdiately.
And Harry's right—Moody's eye couldn't stay here."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
Hermione and Ron nodded.
Harry looked guilty, but no one comforted him.
Because at that mont, Percy entered the elevator—along with Mr. Weasley.
Percy looked awkward, clearly uncomfortable standing beside his father.
Arthur ignored him.
He looked at Ron.
"Cattermole, I heard about your wife…"
Then his voice stopped.
He saw Harry.
His expression imdiately turned cold and distant.
Then he noticed Darren, gave him a brief nod, and looked back at Harry.
"Runcorn," he said sharply, "I heard you reported Cattermole's wife. Don't you think that kind of behavior is disgraceful?"
Harry froze, then hurriedly said in a low voice,
"Arthur… do you know you're under investigation?"
Mr. Weasley's eyes hardened.
"Is that a threat?"
Then he looked at Darren again.
"Martin, I don't think you should associate too closely with soone like him."
Darren gave an awkward laugh.
"…Right."
Arthur glared at Harry once more and stepped out as the elevator reached the lower level.
The doors closed.
---
When the elevator stopped at the basent, Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak.
He covered himself and Ron, while Darren cast a Disillusionnt Charm on himself.
They looked at Hermione.
Hermione took a deep breath.
"I don't need to hide. I'm Umbridge's assistant. I have to attend the hearing—I just delivered her the case files."
Good.
They followed behind her.
Hermione forced a smile as she entered the courtroom.
"Dolores, I'm here," she said sweetly. "We can begin the next hearing."
"I'm not! I'm not Muggle-born!" a woman cried desperately. "I'm pure-blood! My father—"
"Enough," Umbridge said coldly. "We will determine the truth."
She turned to Hermione.
Hermione quickly handed over the docunts.
Umbridge flipped through them eagerly.
Then her eyes lit up.
"Oh my, Mary Cattermole," she said brightly. "It appears you are indeed Muggle-born. I have evidence. People like you should not be allowed to possess magic."
The woman burst into tears.
"I have two children! Please! I can't— Where is my husband? Cattermole should be here with !"
Ron shifted uneasily.
After all, he was currently disguised as her husband.
"Stop pretending," Yaxley said coldly. "Those children inherited magic only because of your husband's blood. Otherwise, they would already be here too."
He had arrived in a hurry, breathing slightly heavily—but his expression was full of contempt.
"When you entered the Ministry today, your wand was confiscated," he continued.
"I didn't co voluntarily!" Mary cried. "You dragged here in front of my children!"
"How unfortunate," Umbridge said sweetly. "We did notify you to report voluntarily. Since you didn't comply, we had to assist you.
Now, our question is simple: from which wizard did you steal your wand?"
"Steal? My wand chose !"
Umbridge's face twisted with disgust.
She leaned closer.
At that mont, Harry and Ron's breathing grew heavier.
Then Hermione suddenly exclaid.
"Dolores… that locket…"
Umbridge bead.
"A Selwyn family heirloom," she said proudly. "You see the 'S'? My family is connected to many noble bloodlines.
Unlike you, Mary. Your parents were… vegetable sellers."
She laughed softly.
Yaxley sneered.
Harry's hands clenched.
That was enough.
He stepped forward and shouted—
"Stupefy!"
The spell shot out.
Yaxley leapt up instantly.
Harry fired again, but Yaxley dodged and counterattacked.
Darren grabbed Harry and pulled him aside.
Then he dropped the Disillusionnt Charm.
A red spell struck Yaxley directly.
Yaxley collapsed, shock frozen on his face—unable to believe that Martin had attacked him.
Darren didn't waste ti.
He pulled Harry up onto the platform.
"Hermione!" he said sharply. "Get the Horcrux. We leave imdiately!"
But Harry pointed toward the waiting line of terrified Muggle-borns.
"No, Darren—save them. Save them too!"
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